If you are reading this, you are an e-patient – one who engages in the management of their own health by self-educating online. Dave deBronkart, one of the pioneers of this movement, has overcome his battle with renal cell carcinoma (a form of kidney cancer), thanks to his own research on the condition. In this video, deBronkart will tell you about the life-saving treatment that he discovered not from his own doctor, but from an online community made up of patients just like him. Being involved in your own health care is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself and for others around the world. Take a moment and listen to his inspiring words.
Posts Tagged ‘epatient movement’
‘Patient’ is not a third-person word: Dave deBronkart speaks on patient advocacy
Monday, July 18th, 2011
Federal agency lobbying for more privacy with medical records
Friday, June 3rd, 2011As e-patients actively involved with your own health management, it is important to take control of your privacy as well. Have you ever thought about who has access to your medical records? According to Reuters, you may not have to be in the dark anymore, as a new rule proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could shine light on the visibility of your personal information.
In addition to regulations established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the federal agency is suggesting that patients should be able to request a list of people who have viewed their medical records, reports the news source.
“We need to protect people’s rights so that they know how their health information has been used or disclosed,” said Georgina Verdugo, director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights. “This proposed rule represents an important step in our continued efforts to promote accountability across the health care system, ensuring that providers properly safeguard private health information.”
Reuters reports that this motion was put forth as part of the Obama administration’s call for an improvement in the medical records system currently utilized in the U.S.
Rare disease sufferers are behind the rise of ‘peer-to-peer healthcare’
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011Upon hearing the news that one has a rare disease, he or she often goes to family and close friends for support. Yet considering that rare diseases are defined as afflicting less than 200,000 people, it may be difficult to find the support that they need in their own community. This is why some of the most powerful e-Patients are those suffering from uncommon conditions, according to NPR.
A new survey from the Pew Internet Project and the California Healthcare Foundation has revealed that “peer-to-peer healthcare,” in which one goes online to find others with a similar condition, is becoming more prevalent among patients with rare diseases – approximately 18 percent of the total Internet users surveyed have done this.
Twenty-three percent of those polled who suffer from hypertension, diabetes, cancer, heart or lung conditions seek help online, according to the study.
While a significant number of people benefiting from online communities have chronic diseases, they are also in the company of users who are learning more about a loved one’s condition, becoming more educated about their general health or those who have had a recent medical crisis.
Websites like Healthetreatment are an important resource for the e-Patient, as they provide a platform for users to discover more information about their health and to belong to a community where they can relate to fellow patients. Doctors and other medical professionals are indeed an invaluable source of information, however, developing relationships with others who are afflicted with the same condition is not only comforting, but it creates a mutually beneficial dialogue that could potentially help your health in the long run.
The e-Patient movement is on the rise
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011As an e-Patient, you know that the Internet is one of the greatest resources that members outside of the medical community have to discovering more about their health. It seems that this trend is gaining even more steam, as researchers have found that beyond checking e-mail, health-related web searches are one of the most popular online activities.
The study conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Project showed that approximately 80 percent of Web users in the United States actively research health topics online, which corresponds to nearly 60 percent of the country’s entire population.
With such a high amount of people taking to their computers to become active in their health education, it comes as no surprise that more than 65 percent of Internet users are in pursuit of a treatment for their condition. Americans are reaping the benefits of interconnectivity by discovering up-to-date information about how they can cope with their illnesses.
Online communities not only offer information on different treatment options, but also personal experiences that create a bond between patients suffering from the same ailments. With the significant growth of the e-Patient community, people are now, more than ever, able to take charge in the management of their health.